John DeVore, wow. Thanks for sharing your thoughts in such a clear — and yet so emotionally rich — piece of writing. Your easy vulnerability shouts courage, and I admire you. “Likeability” is so relative, ego-based and externally dependent that it might well be one of the weakest values one can hold—whether you’re a senator, the president, a drunk man, a gender-role-compliant-woman, or none of them.

Looking forward to reading more from you!